AOL Migrant!

[Boadacia!]

That might be good news for me Friday when my migration takes place Tom, thanks for that information. I'll ask Matt's advice when it's up and running.

I tried your re-setting my router Alan, - to speedtest@speedtest_domain with the password [testing] but the URL [http://217.32.105.42] wouldn't connect for some reason? I then had problems putting it back, and I'm lucky to be back here. It was probably my stupidity? =>

[Tom B]

If you do want to migrate to LLU, there will be a £40 exc. VAT connection fee, so just be wary of that.

[Boadacia!]

Hmmm, right thanks, but at least the exchange here isn't/wasn't as stagnant as we all thought here? I'll see what the advisors here say is my best option if I find no improvement, after the migration. At the moment, even loading ordinary web pages is alike it used to be on dial up! As much use as Internet by pigeon!

Mummy's happy too up in Ludlow, the Waterboard have cut her Talk Talk phone line off, installing her new water meter, and she says getting any help from Talky to fix the line, is similar to wishing for an honest MP!

[Boadacia!]

That would mean that you would get phone & broadband for £23.49 on the Talk Surf 50GB package; which would work out cheaper than Home 25 @ £18.99 + BT line rental @ £11.54 (total £30.53) and you get double the bandwidth (50GB instead of 25GB ) - however you should note that there is no 'free' evening and weekends on the 'Talk' packages (for either broadband or phone calls).

If the tests with the BT test account on the speedtester (or after you've moved to Xilo's Home service) are less than desirable, then that would be the way to go.

Thanks Alan, for finding that. It still doesn't mean that Talk wouldn't be throttling the bandwidth though, I assume? Plus since they also use CWP, I don't feel too much trust towards them. But as you say, it's another option. I just hope my time with Xilo will be as I'm reading it is for most others. I do know their support is absolutely chronically bad, similar to AOL.

[Alan]

No; it's got nothing to do with TalkTalk; you don't have to contact any other than XILO. Xilo wouldn't allow CPW/Opal to throttle the network. If they do, I'm sure Matt will go and beat Charles Dunstone with a big stick (go on; do it; real hard!).

I'm pretty sure from conversations with Matt, that his only LLU option at home is to use CPW/Opal, and that's part of the reason for Xilo offering this option. You don't have anything to worry about with the TalkSurf packages - it's all managed by Xilo in the same way as the Home / Office package that you're moving too.

I'm sure Matt can put your mind at rest about it if you drop him a line, or if he's lurking on here any time soon.

[Boadacia!]

Thanks again Alan. It's so much better here than I already imagined, as we have this inter-punter's community.

Didn't Dunstone have a Prince Charles Enterprise award once? I expect he talks to cabbages too!

Is there a charge for changing one's applied for plan? Only I've already paid for the Home 25gb deal & migration fee. I am obviously a little worried that I might go over that amount. How would the phone be included, without contacting Talk? Would Xilo do that too?

[Alan]

OK; if you go over the 25GB amount (which only applied M-F 8am-midnight - all other times are not counted towards your 25GB (eg all weekend and midnight to 8am are 'free' on Home package)), you will be charged at £1.10 + VAT per Gigabyte or per part off; so If you used 25.1GB, you would be charged an extra £1.10+VAT that month. You can monitor your usages at http://my.xilo.net - which I see you have bookmarked already (no I'm not spying on you; it's in your screenshot!).

With regards to changing package; there is a £11 + VAT regrade charge; unless you wanted to go to the TalkSurf package were Matt has previously said that there is £0 charge to move from another ISP; not sure about an internal migration though.

Phone is handled by Xilo too; they bill you, they arrange the full migration - you don't deal with anyone other than the guys (and gals) at Xilo - everything goes through them.

Call costs in pence per minute (ex VAT) as follows:

                     Daytime    Evening    Weekend
National Fixed Line  1          0.8        0.8
Local A              1          0.8        0.8
Local B              1          0.8        0.8
Vodafone Mobile      8.5        8.5        8.5
O2 Mobile            8.5        8.5        8.5
Orange Mobile        8.5        8.5        8.5
T-Mobile             8.5        8.5        8.5
Three Mobile         13         8.5        4.8
Opal Mobile          13         8.5        6.5
BT Mobile            13         8.5        7
Dolphin Mobile       13         13         5
Services National    1.5        1.5        1.5

[Tom B]

Also, if you want to check what speed you'll get with TalkTalk you can check here: http://www.talktalkmembers.com/content/view/142/156/ Doing it this way means you get some extra info, and you don't have to worry about one of their obnoxious telemarketers ringing you. Also, it looks like TalkTalk have installed a Gigabit network on your exchange, which means there will be no, or very little, congestion, thus slowdown.

[Boadacia!]

This is getting better by the hour! Thanks a load boys.

I used to be with Talk, and they withdrew some free calling times eventually, so BT was slightly better, and I ended up back there. I'm so glad I never went BB with BT though! Ringing Talk (and BT!) was worse than thrashing oneself with barbed wire. So, that's really good Xilo will sort all this for me. It's a little like y'big brother sorting out the bullys for you.

How do I get an avatar put down here? Seems no facility to load one?

Thanks again for all the help and info' - much appreciated.

[Alan]

TO set your avatar; click on 'Settings' (top right of page), and then click on 'edit avatar' (left column) - you can select the option to browse for one from there (or at least I can)